Mid-Atlantic Hockey League

The Mid-Atlantic Hockey League (MAHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league in the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes regions of the United States. The league began play in November 2007. The league was a low level league designed to help ex junior and college players gain pro experience and exposure and move up to higher level leagues.

For the MAHL academic degree, see Divinity (academic discipline).
Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
Founded2007
Folded2008
Head OfficeCanton, Ohio
CommissionerJim Riggs
Current championsIndiana Ice Miners
Official Web siteMAHLHockey.com

First season

The league cancelled the remainder of the 2007-08 season and suspended operations on February 12, 2008, declaring the Indiana Ice Miners league champions. The MAHL hoped to return with teams in new locations in 2008-09.[1] League president Andrew Haines (the same Andrew Haines who owned the American Indoor Football League and currently owns the United Indoor Football League) assured that the league would return to action for the 2008-09 season;[2]Jim Riggs was the commissioner of the MAHL.

Off season activity

The league hoped to expand to between eight and twelve teams, and advertised employment positions for expansion teams in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.[3] Despite stating that the Jamestown and Valley Forge franchises were the most financially solvent, the league announced that Valley Forge would not return to play in 2008, and on March 18 announced that the Jamestown Vikings would be relocated to Ohio to become the Lake Erie Vikings, citing an infamous vandalism incident that made national headlines as reason for the move.[4] On March 11, 2008, the league announced the first expansion team, the South Shore Shooters, based in Dyer, Indiana.[5] Under new ownership and a new head coach, the Indiana Ice Miners planned to return.[6] In April, the league announced the team from Wooster, Ohio would relocate to Trenton, Michigan, and play as the Trenton Warriors.[7] The league also signed a television deal with Fanz TV, a syndication service, but this was never broadcast. Expansion franchises in Battle Creek and Chelsea, Michigan were also announced.

MAHL folded

In August 2008, Andrew Haines sold the league ownership to Andrew Miller.[8] But after touring league teams, Miller and his legal team sought to abandon the contract with Haines. Miller took his Battle Creek, Michigan franchise to the All American Hockey Association. The South Shore Shooters also joined the AAHA, and the league folded.[9]

2007–08 teams
Team City Arena Outcome
Indiana Ice Miners Indiana, Pennsylvania S&T Bank Arena League champion
Jamestown Vikings Jamestown, New York Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena Relocated as Lake Erie Vikings
Mon Valley Thunder Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Rostraver Ice Garden Folded[10]
Valley Forge Freedom Oaks, Pennsylvania Oaks Center Ice Folded
Wooster Warriors Wooster, Ohio Alice Noble Ice Arena Relocated as Trenton Warriors

2007–08 season

Standings
GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Indiana Ice Miners32311002388862
Wooster Warriors3014140215915830
Jamestown Vikings3113180014517026
Mon Valley Thunder3111170315320625
Valley Forge Freedom308202013120418

2008–09 teams

The following teams were scheduled to play the 2008-09 season before the league folded.

Team City Arena Outcome
Battle Creek Revolution Battle Creek, Michigan The Rink Ice Arena Transferred to the All American Hockey League
Chelsea Tornadoes Chelsea, Michigan Arctic Coliseum League folded
Indiana Ice Miners Indiana, Pennsylvania S&T Bank Arena League folded
Lake Erie Vikings Auburn Township, Ohio The Pond League folded
Pittsburgh Iron Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania Mount Lebanon Ice Center League folded
Chi Town Shooters Dyer, Indiana Midwest Training & Ice Center Transferred to the All American Hockey League
Trenton Warriors Trenton, Michigan Kennedy Recreation Center Folded

References
  1. Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Suspends Play 80 Games Into Initial Season Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine The Post-Journal. 13 February 2008.
  2. Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Officials Say Hockey Will Return To City Archived 2008-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Post-Journal. 24 February 2008.
  3. MAHL Employment Opportunities mahlhockey.com Archived 2008-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Vikings relocate for 2008-2009 season mahlhockey.com Archived 2008-03-14 at the Wayback Machine
  5. South Shore Shooters announced as 1st MAHL expansion team mahlhockey.com
  6. Ice Miners retain general manager indianaiceminers.com Archived 2007-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Warriors relocating to Trenton, Michigan mahlhockey.com
  8. http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3705059
  9. MAHL folds "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-09-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. No second year for Thunder - PittsburghLIVE.com Archived 2012-09-14 at Archive.today
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